The Red Cross aims to support 85,000 people over the next six months in Grenada, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cuba.

Operations co-ordinator Ian Logan told BBC News Online that conditions were especially bad in Grenada, where 90% of buildings have been damaged.

"We're looking at 60,000 people in Grenada who've lost everything, and that's out of a population of 100,000," he said.

He added: "We've already had three hurricanes in a row that were category four or five in strength. This could be a one-in-50-year season. It's a devastating picture so far and we have to assume that there will be more."

In another development, the United Nations released statistics showing more natural disasters are taking place and more people are killed or otherwise affected by them.

It said 254 million people were affected by natural hazards last year - nearly three times the number in 1990.